BATMAN - GOTHAM KNIGHT (TWO-DISC COLLECTOR'S EDITION) (2008)

Batman - Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (2008)

Actors: Kevin Conroy, Gary Dourdan, David McCallum, Parminder Nagra
Directors: Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Yasuhiro Aoki, Shojiro Nishimi, Futoshi Higashide, Toshiyuki Kubooka
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: July 8, 2008
Run Time: 75 minutes

NOT REVIEWED YET (we will be reviewing this title soon — click here to subscribe to our free regular newsletter and receive an e-mail notifying you when we do)

Description: Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins) Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman’s transition from novice crime fighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries Batman’s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them leaving some fearful of his power. The sharp storytelling complemented by stylish art from some of the world’s most visionary animators masterfully depicts the blurred lines of Batman as man myth and legend. — Amazon.com

The third recent high-profile DC Animation straight-to-DVD release in a row, the first being Superman Doomsday, which was followed by Justice League: The New Frontier.

These previous two releases couldn’t quite live to fan expectations and their own hype, and with a mere 75 minutes running time, Batman Gotham Knight looks set to follow that same path. Still, once you shift down your expectations a notch or two, these DC Animation flicks weren’t really bad at all and quite watchable. Besides, they didn’t exactly go in against the spirit of the comic book characters that inspired them as some cartoon adaptations tend to go.

The hook behind Batman Gotham Knight is of course that Batman is re-imagined by some well-known anime artists. A single storyline is told in various “chapters” with each chapter being done on a different style by different artists and its own look. Expect some anal comic book purists to fret and fume . . .

This release is timed to coincide with the highly-anticipated Dark Knight theatrical release. Expect a review soon.

Check out these trailers in the meantime: